Project Summary

Lake Simcoe WQT Feasibility and Offset Program Development

Human activities within the 2,900 square kilometer watershed outreach to lay and technical audiences. Lake Simcoe watershed, located 50 km north of The successful demonstration of feasibility led to K&A Toronto, are affecting the health and quality of the (and XCG) developing a recommended framework lake and its tributaries. Lake Simcoe is the largest lake with the regional conservation authority serving as a in southern Ontario, outside of the Great Lakes. clearinghouse for phosphorus offsets under the new More than half of Ontario’s population is just over an “Lake Simcoe Phosphorus Offset Program”. hour’s drive from the lake. Water quality This program requires all new development to have a problems in Lake net zero phosphorus discharge. If unable to maintain Simcoe have been stormwater on-site, phosphorus offsets must be documented since obtained through urban stormwater retrofits at a the 1970s and remain 2.5:1 trade ratio. The economic assessment of these a cause for concern. offset requirements was deemed acceptable to the The primary water development community, and overall net load quality concern is reductions of phosphorus despite growth are nutrient enrichment, projected. Now operational, the program is expected particularly excessive to help reduce phosphorus levels in Lake Simcoe and amounts of its tributaries. phosphorus. The Province of Ontario Absent this trading program, was been charged new growth was expected to with establishing a significantly increase TP loads protection plan for to the lake. With the program, the Lake and overall net reductions in developing a phosphorus reduction strategy. Prior to loading are now expected with implementing a reduction strategy, the Ontario new growth. This $1.2M Ministry of Environment commissioned a feasibility program development effort was undertaken study on water quality trading (WQT) to determine if through the Lake Simcoe Conservation Authority a market-based program could be used as another under Ontario Ministry of the Environment grant tool for funding nutrient reductions in the Lake awards. It is the largest program of its kind in Canada. Simcoe watershed. Contact: Kieser & Associates, LLC (K&A) working with the Michael Walters Canadian consultant, XCG completed a Chief Administrative Officer comprehensive WQT feasibility study commissioned LSRCA 120 Bayview Parkway, Newmarket, Ontario by the Ontario Ministry of Environment for Lake L3Y 3W3 Simcoe in 2009. The study involved a review of 905.895.1281 x 234 |1.800.465.0437 pollutant trading programs in leading jurisdictions, [email protected] identification of options for the structure and delivery of water quality trading programs, examination of Project Costs: Project Duration: environmental, economic, and social implications for $675,000 (K&A) 2008-2009, 2012-2014 implementing a fully functioning program and broad $1,400,000 (Total)

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